(Newser)
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While other congressmen were heaping abuse on BP CEO Tony Hayward in this morning's hearings, one Republican abruptly shifted gears in his opening remarks and apologized to the man in the hot seat. Rep. Joe Barton told Hayward he was "ashamed" of the pressure the White House put on BP to create the $20 billion escrow fund to cover losses to victims of the spill. "I think it's a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would call a shakedown," the Texan said. "In this case a $20 billion shakedown."

Barton said the administration has no authority to ask for this "$20 billion slush fund" and that litigation provides adequate due process for awarding damages. "I apologize," he said to Hayward. "I do not want to live in a country where every time a corporation does something wrong, it's subject to a political process that amounts to a shakedown." Later, Dem Rep. Ed Markey begged to differ, noting that litigation by victims of the Exxon Valdez spill took years to be settled, and criminal charges in the 1984 Bhopal disaster in India more than a quarter century. Read more in the Guardian's live blog.

This is just classic example of the type of repugnant attitude from the GOP that drive moderate's away from the party! I am no big fan of big government, but frankly big corps. scare me even more! And this should show everyone exactly who the GOP represent, BIG CORP. Not the "small people". While the "small people" in the Gulf region stand to loose everything they work their WHOLE lives for. This Republican from Texas seems more concerned about this BIG Multinational being "shaken down" or actually having to pay claims in a timely manner so the people can live from day to day. Do all the people live in "Wacko Texas" that voted for this guy or what? Come on people of Texas, is this the best you can do? This guy just gave you a huge "black eye" on the wall of shame! This guy make me almost as sick as seeing all the oil wash up on the shores of the Gulf !